To implement European directives, the French law of 26
July 1996 opened up the telecommunications sector to full competition
from 1 January 1998. This law thus provides for telecommunications
activities to be carried out freely. Regulation involves the
application, by the competent authority, of all legal, economic and
technical arrangements that will allow for telecommunications
activities to be exercised effectively. For regulation to be
equitable, it must be ensured completely independently from the
different operators present on the market. As with all EU member
States legislation, French law has established this separation by
creating an independent regulatory body, the French Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority.